RADIO WAVES: LIONS DECISION SOON; ROUGH TIMES IN MIAMI

The Lions are close to a decision as to whether they will
switch signals on their radio broadcast rights, according to Mike
O'Hara in today's DETROIT NEWS. The team is at the end of its
deal with WWJ-AM, who paid an estimated $1.5M for the '95 rights
and have held broadcast to Lions games since '89. Sources
estimate a new deal in the three- year range "could pay the Lions
twice that much." Team officials are set to meet with
representatives of the Infinity network, which holds radio rights
to the Cowboys, Redskins, and Eagles, among other NFL teams.
Infinity has three Detroit-area stations (DETROIT NEWS, 12/5).
HEAT WAVE: The Heat have been upset with flagship radio
station WINZ because they will not simulcast games on Ft.
Lauderdale's WFTL. Now WINZ says they "might be willing" to
simulcast on WFTL if the Heat will waive WINZ's obligation to
carry sports programming from 7-10pm on nights without a Heat or
U/Miami game. ... Some Panthers officials "resent" that their
radio flagship, WQAM, "uses its second intermission to discuss
sports other than hockey" (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 12/1).